Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-04-26
8xilg Kennsbst 5onrnal.
Augusta. Tuesday Morning. April 26.
MIR. Blaine's Latest Book.

MIR. Blaine's Latest BOOK.
Mr.. Blaine's latest literary work has
lust been published by the Henry Bell
Publishing Company. 1t is handsomely
printed octave OF more than 500 pages,
containing political speeches and writings
legislative, diplomatic and popular, OF MIR
Blaine, from 1856 to 1886.
We have examined the pages OF this
work with a great deal of interest. They
contain the best record and picture of Mr.
Blaines public life yet published In
them we see him as in a mirror. They
place him before US as he was when he
first entered Congress, when he mingled
in high debate in the national legislature
and when he addressed the popular
assemblages of this and other States. II
is not what some other person has said OF
Mr.. Blaine which impresses US in these
pages, but it is what he said upon great
questions of importance. 1t is as though
he were speaking and we listening to the
ringing voice and impassioned speech OF
the living orator.
The volume opens with the reproduction
of a speech delivered in Litchfield, Ken
nebec county, in 1856, after his return
from the national convention which
nominated Fremont, to which he
was a delegate. This was
his maiden political speech. 1t is fol-
lowed by speech delivered at a republic
can mass meeting in Pennington July 4,
1860, the occasion being the formal open
ing OF the republican campaign for that
year. The subject was the bred Scott de-
cision and the free trade experiment OF
1846-1S6l. Two years afterwards Mr..
Blaine was nominated as the republican
candidate for Congress for this congress
sional district and elected. His speech
before the convention accepting the NOM
ination is found in this volume. Then the
rebellion was the all absorbing theme.
Upon this subject he was decided and en-
phatic The great object with us all. y
he said. sis to subdue the rebellion
speedily, effectually, finally. In our
march to that end we must crush all in
tervenirg obstacles. If slavery, or any
other institution stands in the way. 1t
must be removed. Perish all things else,
the national life must be preserved
The next speech is one delivered in the
House of Representatives April. 1864.
In this Mr.. Blaine maintained the tinan-
cial ability of the nation to cope with the
rebellion The speech is remarkable
statement of the resources Of the nation,
and displays strength of courage and
wisdom not excelled by any utterance of
the boldest statesmen then prominent in
Congress.
Among the contents of this book will be
found the greater part of MIR. Blaine's
most important speeches. They take up
the subject of currency, gold and silver,
reconstruction OF the South, representation
in Congress, the national honor and the
payment of the debt, taxation of United
States bonds, municipal debt in the United
States. reconciliation of silver, the Hail.
fax award. progress of the northwest,
southern abuse of the election franchise,
Chinese immigration, national sovereignty
against State sovereignty, encouragement
of American shipbuilding and the revival
OF American commerce on the ocean, and
Others which we have not space to men,
ton. MIR. Blaine's diplomatic correspon-
dence is published quite fully 1t sffords
evidence of craftsmanship different from
that found in his political speeches
evidence that but for the sudden and sad
events which shortened his term as Secre.
tary of State this government would have
stood higher among the nations of the
earth than ever before.
The volume closes with a
department devoted to the "political
discussions" of Mr.. Blaine. The sub
jects are Withdrawal of Invitations to a
Peace Congress; Foreign Policy of the
Garfield Administration Mr.. Blaine's
Letter accepting the republican nomlna.
ton for the Presidency in 1884; Speeches
before the people during the Presidential
Canvass of 1884; After the Presidential
Election of 1884; Memorial Services in
honor of General Grant in Augusta, Maine
Aug. s, 1885, The irish Question; Politi
cal Issues in 1886; Memorial Address.
The whole makes volume of especial
interest to all who desire to be well in
formed in regard to the po.itica
utterances of the foremost public mar
in this country and the peer of any
public man in any other country. 1t is ;
fitting companion volume to Twenty
Years of Congress" an appropriate sup
plement to that splendid work.
"